CZK - LP-257

During the development work on the anti-aircraft vehicle LP-157, a proposal for a vehicle with a double-launched anti-aircraft gun R 10 with so-called continuous supply by means of hoppers was also developed. This allowed a smooth choice of using anti-aircraft and anti-tank ammunition. The study was sent on 30.6.1955 by the commissioned firm Konštrukta Brno to the Artillery Armament Administration. The author of the drawing entitled "Double canon 257 on the T-34 tank, situation B" with the number KV 0-002 dated 1.5.1955 is probably Miroslav Kotík. The designation "LP-257" is hypothetical and serves to distinguish versions with LP-157. The turret itself could have been mounted on any self-propelled or towed chassis. The towed version is shown in Kotík's drawing KV 0-001. The turret is described as a cab made of 25 mm armour plate. The axes of the pair of symmetrically externally-launched guns were spaced 510 mm apart. The guns must have been of different design i.e. right and left cannon. The design of the bayonets allowed a pointing range of -6° to +120°. The turret crew occupied a semi-recumbent position. In the future it was planned to create an automatic fire control system, where the weapon systems were to be controlled centrally without the presence of an operator. However, this distant intention was never realized.
The functional scheme of control by servomotors was drawn up by Miroslav Kotík in drawing KV 2-009 of 15.6.1955. Miroslav Kotík already on 1.4.1955 theoretically laid out the supply of cannons with ammunition on drawing KV 0-006. The magazines or hoppers were not dependent on the position of the guns. The magazine could hold 50 rounds for anti-aircraft fire. When firing against armored targets was required, the operator switched the feeders to remove rounds from the center magazines. Each of the magazines held 12 armour piercing rounds. The cannons were fed by means of screw conveyors. The design of this device was tested in principle and was suitable up to a cadence of 400 shots per minute. Due to the limited production of the R 10 anti-aircraft cannon for the Czechoslovak army (400 pieces) and its subsequent discontinuation, projects using this cannon were discontinued.

Mgr. Martin Dubánek - Projects of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns from 1955, ATM No. 10/2012, ISSN: 1802-4823
Mgr. Martin Dubánek - Od bodák po tryskáče - Nedokončené Československé zbrojní projekty 1945-1955, Mladá fronta 2011, ISBN : 978-80-204-2515-7